With Irma's path uncertain, now's the time to familiarize yourself with your insurance policy. Here’s what those numbers really mean and why what's not covered may surprise you.
The staff at the Swafford Insurance Agency says they've never experienced a day like today. Policy holders are calling from morning till night to reduce their hurricane deductible or increase coverage.
By late Tuesday most carriers stopped writing new business. Consumers for now are stuck with their current coverage. Now's the time to get familiar with your declarations page.
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Dwelling coverage pertains to the actual structure of your home. Personal property coverage is anything that would fall out of your home if it was turned upside down.
Many of Irma’s victims will need loss of use coverage. The figure under loss of use covers anything from food to hotel rooms if a storm renders your home uninhabitable.
Pool owners may be surprised to learn the pool cage may not be covered by hurricane damage. Often carriers require hurricane coverage for these structures as an extra that must be added to the policy.
One of the most important figures on the declaration page is the hurricane deductible. On average the hurricane deductible is 2 percent of your home's coverage. So if your house is insured for $200,000 then your deductible equals $4000
You want to be sure of the amount that is not covered before you file a claim.
Once you file a claim you can't take it back and it could show up on your history that other carriers will see.
